[butterfingazz]

so ill keep this short, a fiio portable amp, and it has a gain option, it has 0, 6 and 12 idk what gain really does or is besides it makes sound louder, so is a lot of gain good or bad?

 

[Uberclocked]

Gain is for driving these:
http://www.amazon.com/STAX-SR-009-Electrostatic-Earspeakers-Japan/dp/B004W1S0BY
Seriously though, yeah, gain is just for boosting sound if your headphones are hard to drive.

 

[AnalogSavior]

  so ill keep this short, a fiio portable amp, and it has a gain option, it has 0, 6 and 12 idk what gain really does or is besides it makes sound louder, so is a lot of gain good or bad?

 
You got it already.  Use as much or little as you need to get comfortable listening level.

 

[butterfingazz]

k thanks for replies everyone.

 

[Fadem]

High gain increases the amount of noise - try to use the lowest gain possible. In general, start at the lowest gain level, turn up the volume. If the output is inadequate, turn down the volume, increase the gain and increase the volume again. Repeat until the desired output is achieved. If the desired SPL is not achieved on highest gain, your amplifier is not suited for your cans.